Q & A

A deep tissue full body massage is a form of healing bodywork. At your first massage, your massage therapist will do a brief intake. They will ask you questions about the type of pressure you’d like to receive during your deep tissue massage, any previous massage experience you’ve had, and any injuries or sensitivities you have. You can remain clothed, or the massage therapist will provide draping so that even if you’re not wearing clothes you are always fully covered. Deep tissue massage may be a good option for people with chronic pain or muscle tension. The systematic deep tissue strokes will work to break down any scar tissue or stiff tissues and create ease in your body again. Massage therapists use their hands, forearms, fists and knuckles to knead and stroke your muscles and loosen adhesions. Although deep tissue massage work is intense, it should not be painful, so communicate clearly with your massage therapist so they know if you’re having any discomfort. The national average cost of a deep tissue massage is between $70 and $90.

There are many reasons to get a deep tissue massage. A deep tissue massage can release adhesions — also known as knots — that are causing painful tension in your muscles. Deep tissue massage can promote healing and ease discomfort related to illnesses such as cancer, chronic headaches, osteoarthritis of the knee, chronic neck or back pain, depression, and more, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. If you have an old sports injury such as shin splints, or a bad back from an old car accident, deep tissue massage can promote healing in your traumatized and scarred soft tissues and get you on the road to recovery. The strokes and techniques used in deep tissue massage work to lengthen soft tissue structures that have stiffened and hardened into knotty adhesions that allow minimal movement. Deep tissue massage can loosen these adhesions so that long-standing scar tissue releases and you can gain more mobility and more freedom from stiffness and pain. And it just feels good. The national average cost of a deep tissue massage is between $70 and $90.

Deep tissue massage and Swedish massage are both forms of therapeutic bodywork. In both modalities, a licensed massage therapist uses strokes administered with their hands or forearms to loosen and relax your muscles and other soft tissue. These releases can promote relaxation, pain relief and wellness.

Deep tissue massage may be an excellent therapeutic choice for people with chronic pain or severe tension in their muscles. The deep tissue massage technique moves below the top layer of muscle and soft tissue to release adhesions in your core muscles. In comparison, the strokes used in Swedish massage focus on loosening and relaxing the top layer of your soft tissues. Swedish massage produces relaxation and well-being, but if you have a long-term injury or back pain that won’t seem to go away, deep tissue massage may be a better option for you. The systematic deep tissue strokes will work to break down any scar tissue or stiff tissues and create ease in your body again.

Deep tissue massage not only feels fabulous, it can provide results. The massage technique targets deeper layers of muscle and your connective tissue. For its ability to stimulate those deeper muscles, deep tissue massage is commonly used during recuperation from sports-related and other injuries, according to the Mayo Clinic. Deep tissue massage has been proved to reduce high blood pressure and a range of other ailments. Deep tissue and other types of massage are frequently used for relieving stress, managing pain, breaking down scar tissue, relieving muscle tension and improving health. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health cites the following as health conditions for which that deep tissue massage can provide relief:

Chronic low back pain, chronic neck pain, and osteoarthritis of the knee